Systems and methods for tracking public transportation vehicles using an internet-enabled device

ABSTRACT

A system for tracking a public transportation vehicle includes a reporting device implemented on the public transportation vehicle that transmits a signal including information regarding an identity of the public transportation vehicle and a receiving device implemented on a public transportation station that receives the signal from the reporting device and communicates the information regarding the identity of the public transportation vehicle and a time-stamp regarding an arrival of the public transportation vehicle at the public transportation station. The system further includes an internet-enabled back-end server that receives the communication from the reporting device and stores the identity of the public transportation vehicle and the time-stamp regarding the arrival of the public transportation vehicle at the public transportation station in a database of the back-end server. The back-end server is configured to allow access of its database by an internet-enabled commuter device.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for thatassist a user in using public transportation. More particularly, thepresent disclosure relates to systems and methods for tracking publictransportation vehicles using an internet-enabled device.

BACKGROUND

One disadvantage to the use of public transportation systems remains thepossibility of vehicles, such as busses, trains, light rail, and thelike, arriving later or earlier than their scheduled times. A commutermay be irritated by arriving tardy to a destination, missing a train orbus, or simply by spending time waiting for a late vehicle. A publictransportation system operator may publish a schedule providing arrivaland departure times of vehicles for the system's routes. The publictransportation system operator, however, is sometimes unable to keep theschedule, for example at high-traffic times, for reasons such as trafficcongestion, inclement weather, commuter load, and vehicle serviceissues. Additionally, regardless of how well an operator is able to keepa schedule, a commuter who uses public transit or a particular routeinfrequently, or a commuter from outside of the region in which theparticular public transportation system operates, is unlikely to have aschedule readily accessible.

A commuter waiting at a depot or transit stop for a bus or train, forexample, may not know with any certainty when the next vehicle willarrive at the station. If a commuter arrives at the stop only a momentbefore a scheduled arrival time, and the next vehicle does not arrive atthat time, the commuter may be uncertain as to whether or not the bus ortrain may have arrived and departed before-hand, or if or when thevehicle will arrive. Such confusion may, of course, be mitigated byarriving early at the station to avoid missing the bus or train. Thisapproach, however, wastes time, and extends the length of what mayalready be a long commute, and which may be better spent by the commuterin other more advantageous pursuits.

As such, there is a continuing need in the art for systems and methodsthat allow commuters to better predict the arrival of a publictransportation vehicle at a particular station. The proliferation ofinternet-enabled devices, such as smartphones and personal computers,additionally make it desirable for such systems and methods to beaccessible using such devices. Moreover, other desirable features andcharacteristics of the present disclosure will become apparent from thesubsequent detailed description the appended claims, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings and background.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The various embodiments disclosed herein relate to systems and methodsfor tracking a public transportation vehicle. In one exemplaryembodiment, a system includes a reporting device implemented on thepublic transportation vehicle that transmits a signal includinginformation regarding an identity of the public transportation vehicleand a receiving device implemented on a public transportation stationthat receives the signal from the reporting device and communicates theinformation regarding the identity of the public transportation vehicleand a time-stamp regarding an arrival of the public transportationvehicle at the public transportation station. The system furtherincludes an internet-enabled back-end server that receives thecommunication from the reporting device and stores the identity of thepublic transportation vehicle and the time-stamp regarding the arrivalof the public transportation vehicle at the public transportationstation in a database of the back-end server. The back-end server isconfigured to allow access of its database by an internet-enabledcommuter device.

In another exemplary embodiment, a method includes the steps oftransmitting from the public transportation vehicle a signal comprisinginformation regarding an identity of the public transportation vehicle,receiving at a public transportation station the signal from the publictransportation vehicle. The method further includes communicating to aninternet-enabled back-end server the information regarding the identityof the public transportation vehicle and a time-stamp regarding anarrival of the public transportation vehicle at the publictransportation station and storing the identity of the publictransportation vehicle and the time-stamp regarding the arrival of thepublic transportation vehicle at the public transportation station in adatabase at the back-end server. Still further, the method includesallowing access of the database by an internet-enabled commuter device.

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the detaileddescription. This summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended tobe used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subjectmatter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The disclosed embodiments will hereinafter be described in conjunctionwith the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote likeelements, and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a Zigbee transceiver, which may beemployed as the wireless communication-enabled reporting device in anembodiment;

FIG. 2 shows a configuration of a Bluetooth transceiver, which may beemployed as the wireless communication-enabled reporting device in anembodiment;

FIG. 3 shows a computing system that may be utilized to implement aback-end server in an embodiment; and

FIG. 4 is a block-and-flow diagram of a method of operation of theexemplary systems described herein in accordance with an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is merely illustrative in nature andis not intended to limit the embodiments of the subject matter or theapplication and uses of such embodiments. As used herein, the word“exemplary” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.”Any implementation described herein as exemplary is not necessarily tobe construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations.Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed orimplied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background,brief summary or the following detailed description.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are generally directed to systemsand methods for tracking public transportation vehicles using aninternet-enabled device. The system includes a wirelesscommunication-enabled reporting device, a wireless communication-enabledreceiving device which is also internet connected, an internet-enabledback-end server located remotely from the reporting and receivingdevices, and a software-based application (“app”) that is configured torun on a commuter's internet-enabled device, such as a smartphone orpersonal computer. Each public transportation vehicle includes areporting device thereon. Each station, depot, or stop (collectivelyreferred to hereinafter simply as a “station”) includes a receivingdevice. The method includes the step of, upon the arrival of a publictransportation vehicle at a station, the reporting device wirelesslysending a signal to the receiving device that the vehicle associatedwith the report device has arrived at the station. The method furtherincludes sending a signal from the receiving device to the back-endserver indicating that the particular vehicle has arrived at the stationassociated with the receiving device. At the back-end server, a databaseor other data storage means is updated to indicate the current positionof the particular vehicle based on the signal sent from the particularreceiving device. Still further, the method includes the commuter usinghis/her internet-enabled smartphone device to access theinternet-enabled back-end server to obtain the information in thedatabase thereof regarding the current position of the particularvehicle. A public transportation system may include a plurality ofreporting devices, one each on a plurality of vehicles of the publictransportation system; and it may also include a plurality of receivingdevices, one each on a plurality of stations of the publictransportation system.

Wireless Communication-Enabled Reporting Device

In an embodiment, the wireless communication-enabled reporting device isinstalled on a vehicle of a public transportation system. Each vehicleof a system/network of vehicles may include such a reporting device. Thereporting device is configured to send/transmit a signal indicating theparticular vehicle with which the reporting device is associated. Thereporting device may be enabled for wireless communication using anyknown wireless communication standard, such as Zigbee or Bluetooth.

For example, FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a Zigbee transceiver, whichmay be employed as the wireless communication-enabled reporting device.The Zigbee transceiver shown in FIG. 1 includes an RF front endprocessor 11 for converting an RF reception signal corresponding to achannel selected out of 2.4 GHz RF reception signals into an IFreception signal, and converting an IF transmission signal into an RFtransmission signal of the selected channel; an MSKmodulator/demodulator 12 for demodulating the IF reception signal fromthe RF processor 11 into a baseband reception signal by Minimum ShiftKeying (MSK), and modulating a baseband transmission signal into the IFtransmission signal by MSK to output to the RF processor 11; a basebandprocessor 14 for converting the baseband reception signalMSK-demodulated by the MSK modulator/demodulator 12 into a digitalreception signal by bandpass processing, and converting the digitaltransmission signal into the baseband transmission signal by bandpassprocessing to output to the MSK modulator/demodulator 12; a memory 15storing a firmware to control Zigbee transmission/reception, acontroller 16 for executing Zigbee transmission/reception controlincluding channel selection control by executing the firmware of thememory 15, and receiving the digital reception signal from the basebandprocessor 14 and providing the digital transmission signal to thebaseband processor 14; and a channel selector 17 for selecting an RFchannel of the RF processor 11 under the control of the controller 16.

In another example, FIG. 2 shows a configuration of a Bluetoothtransceiver, which may be employed as the wireless communication-enabledreporting device. The Bluetooth transceiver shown in FIG. 2 includes anRF front end processor 21 for converting an RF reception signal of 2.4Hz RF reception signals into an IF reception signal under frequencyhopping control, and converting an IF transmission signal into an RFtransmission signal under frequency hopping control; an FSKmodulator/demodulator 22 for FSK-demodulating an IF transmission signalfrom the RF processor 21 into a baseband reception signal andFSK-modulating a baseband transmission signal into the IF transmissionsignal in accordance with pre-set hopping frequency to output to the RFprocessor 21; a baseband processor 24 for converting the basebandreception signal FSK-demodulated by the FSK modulator/demodulator 22into a digital reception signal by bandpass processing, and converting adigital transmission signal into the baseband transmission signal bybandpass processing to output to the FSK modulator/demodulator 22; amemory 25 storing a firmware to control Bluetoothtransmission/reception; a controller 26 for controlling Bluetoothtransmission/reception by executing the firmware of the memory 25,receiving the digital reception signal from the baseband processor 24and providing the digital transmission signal to the baseband processor24, and a hopping frequency controller 27 for controlling hoppingfrequency of the RF processor 21 based on hopping frequency from the FSKmodulator/demodulator 22.

Wireless Communication-Enabled Receiving Device

In an embodiment, the wireless communication-enabled receiving device isinstalled at a station of the public transportation system. Each stationof a system/network of stations may include such a receiving device. Thereceiving device is configured to receive a signal from a reportingdevice when the reporting device is within the wireless communicationrange of the receiving device. The reporting device being withincommunication range of the receiving device indicates that theparticular vehicle associated with the reporting device has arrived atthe particular station associated with the receiving device. Thereporting device broadcasts the signal using wireless communications,and the receiving device receives the broadcast signal from thereporting device when the reporting device is within communication rangethereof. In this manner, the receiving device becomes aware that aparticular public transportation vehicle has arrived at a particularpublic transportation station. The receiving device may be enabled forwireless communication using any known wireless communication standard,such as Zigbee or Bluetooth, but corresponding with the technologyselected for the reporting device to ensure compatibility. In thisregard, FIGS. 1 and 2 provide a summary of the technology that is alsoto be used for the receiving device so as to ensure compatibility withthe reporting device.

When a public transportation vehicle stops at a station, information isexchanged between the reporting device and the receiving device. Thedata is then authenticated by the receiving device. The receiving deviceat each station is connected via an electronic communication means (suchas wired or wireless means) to an internet-enabled back-end server, aswill be discussed in greater detail below. In one embodiment, theelectronic communication means is the internet. The receiving devicecommunicates information via the electronic communication means upon thereceipt thereof from a reporting device and upon the authenticationthereof. The communicated information includes the identity of thevehicle that has arrived and the identity of the station associated withthe receiving device, and also the time of the arrival (time-stamp),among other possible information. In this manner, the communication fromthe receiving device to the back-end server includes information that aparticular vehicle has arrived at a particular station. Further, itshould be noted that the receiving device will include a network portfor a wired or wireless network. Wireless technologies such as GSM orLTE may are suitable for providing wireless network capability in thisregard.

Internet-Enabled Back-End Server

In an embodiment, the internet-enabled back-end server is configured toreceive the electronic communication from the receiving device thatindicates that a particular public transportation vehicle has arrived ata particular station. The back-end server may be electronicallyconnected, via the electronic communication means such as the internet,with each receiving device of the plurality of receiving devices, onebeing installed at each station of the plurality of stations that formthe public transportation network, and may be located remotely from eachsuch station. The back-end server includes a database that records andstores each incoming communication from each receiving device. In thismanner, the back-end server maintains and stores up-to-date informationregarding each station, that is, regarding which particular vehicle hasmost recently arrived at each station, as well as possibly historicalinformation regarding previous arrivals of vehicles at particularstations. The back-end server is internet enabled such that commuterswho have access to the internet are able to access the informationstored in the back-end server. In this regard, a commuter with internetaccess is able to access the back-end server and access the informationstored in the database thereof. As such, the commuter is able to accessdata for a particular station and determine whether a particular vehicleof interest (which may be identified by route number) has arrived at orreached previous station(s). The commuter may use this information todetermine their schedule for arriving at the station to reduce waitingtime, for example.

An implementation of an exemplary internet-enabled back-end server isdescribed in connection with FIG. 3. That is, FIG. 3 shows a computingsystem 300 that may be utilized to implement a back-end server 350.Computing system 300 may be connected to a network 108, which in turnmay be connected to one or a plurality of other network-connecteddevices 106. In one embodiment, the computing system 300 is a servercomputing system that is located in a data center (remote from thestations) and that provides data services for the entire publictransportation system network. Note that one or more general purpose orspecial purpose computing systems/devices may be used to implement theback-end server 350. In addition, the computing system 300 may includeone or more distinct computing systems/devices and may span distributedlocations. Furthermore, each block shown may represent one or more suchblocks as appropriate to a specific embodiment or may be combined withother blocks. Also, the back-end server 350 may be implemented insoftware, hardware, firmware, or in some combination to achieve thecapabilities described herein.

In the embodiment shown, computing system 300 includes a computer memory(“memory”) 301, a display 302, one or more Central Processing Units(“CPU”) 303, Input/Output devices 304 (e.g., audio processor, videoprocessor, keyboard, mouse, CRT or LCD display, and the like), othercomputer-readable media 305, and network connections 306. The back-endserver 350 is shown residing in memory 301. In other embodiments, someportion of the contents, some of, or all of the components of theback-end server may be stored on and/or transmitted over the othercomputer-readable media 305. The components of the back-end server 350preferably execute on one or more CPUs 303 and facilitate the receiptand storage of vehicle arrival and station information, as describedherein. Other code or programs 330 (e.g., an administrative interface, aWeb server, and the like) and potentially other data repositories, suchas data repository 320, also reside in the memory 301, and preferablyexecute on one or more CPUs 303. Of note, one or more of the componentsin FIG. 3 may not be present in any specific implementation. Forexample, some embodiments may not provide other computer readable media305 or a display 302.

The embodiments described above may also use well-known or proprietarysynchronous or asynchronous client-server computing techniques. However,the various components may be implemented using more monolithicprogramming techniques as well, for example, as an executable running ona single CPU computer system, or alternatively decomposed using avariety of structuring techniques known in the art, including but notlimited to, multiprogramming, multithreading, client-server, orpeer-to-peer, running on one or more computer systems each having one ormore CPUs. Some embodiments may execute concurrently and asynchronously,and communicate using message passing techniques. Equivalent synchronousembodiments are also supported by a back-end server implementation.Also, other functions could be implemented and/or performed by eachcomponent/module, and in different orders, and by differentcomponents/modules, yet still achieve the functions of the back-endsubsystem.

In addition, programming interfaces to the data stored as part ofback-end server 350, such as in the data repository 315, can beavailable by standard mechanisms such as through C, C++, C#, and JavaAPIs; libraries for accessing files, databases, or other datarepositories; through scripting languages such as XML; or through Webservers, FTP servers, or other types of servers providing access tostored data. The data repository 315 may be implemented as one or moredatabase systems, file systems, or any other technique for storing suchinformation, or any combination of the above, including implementationsusing distributed computing techniques.

Furthermore, in some embodiments, some or all of the components of theback-end server 350 may be implemented or provided in other manners,such as at least partially in firmware and/or hardware, including, butnot limited to one or more application-specific integrated circuits(“ASICs”), standard integrated circuits, controllers (e.g., by executingappropriate instructions, and including microcontrollers and/or embeddedcontrollers), field-programmable gate arrays (“FPGAs”), complexprogrammable logic devices (“CPLDs”), and the like. Some or all of thesubsystem components and/or data structures may also be stored ascontents (e.g., as executable or other machine-readable softwareinstructions or structured data) on a computer-readable medium (e.g., asa hard disk; a memory; a computer network or cellular wireless networkor other data transmission medium; or a portable media article to beread by an appropriate drive or via an appropriate connection, such as aDVD or flash memory device) so as to enable or configure thecomputer-readable medium and/or one or more associated computing systemsor devices to execute or otherwise use or provide the contents toperform at least some of the described techniques. Some or all of thesubsystem components and data structures may also be stored as datasignals (e.g., by being encoded as part of a carrier wave or included aspart of an analog or digital propagated signal) on a variety ofcomputer-readable transmission mediums, which are then transmitted,including across wireless-based and wired/cable-based mediums, and maytake a variety of forms (e.g., as part of a single or multiplexed analogsignal, or as multiple discrete digital packets or frames). Suchcomputer program products may also take other forms in otherembodiments. Accordingly, embodiments of this disclosure may bepracticed with other computer system configurations.

Commuter's Internet-Enabled Device

In one embodiment, a commuter uses an internet-enabled device to accessthe information stored on the internet-enabled back-end server. Theinternet provides the electronic communication means to facilitate suchinformation access between the commuter's device and the server. Forexample, a commuter may use their device to access information on aparticular vehicle of the public transportation system (i.e., todetermine which station the particular vehicle most recently arrived at,or had arrived in the past at) or the commuter may user their device toaccess information on a particular station of the public transportationsystem (i.e., to determine which vehicle most recently arrived at theparticular station, or had arrived there-at in the past). The commuter'sdevice communicates electronically with the back-end server, via theinternet, to access this information.

Examples of the commuter's internet-enabled device include, but are notlimited to, a television (“TV”), a personal computer (“PC”), a soundsystem receiver, a digital video recorder (“DVR”), a compact disk (“CD”)device, game system, cell phone, smartphone, electronic tablet, or thelike. Devices can employ a display, one or more speakers, and/or otheroutput devices to communicate visual and/or audio content to a user. Thedevice transmits and receives data via an Internet Protocol (“IP”)network established over wire-based and/or wireless communication media.

Software-Based Application

In an embodiment, the software-based application (“app”) may reside onthe commuter's internet-enabled device, or it may be stored on theback-end server and accessed via the internet. The app provides aconvenient means for the commuter to easily and intuitively accessinformation from the back-end server. For example, the app may includefeatures that allow the commuter to access information regarding aparticular station in an easy-to-read format. In another example, theapp may include features that allow the commuter to access informationregarding a particular vehicle in an easy-to-read format. In thisregard, the app accesses data from the back-end server and transformsthe data into a format for easier viewing by the commuter. The app mayalso provide various authentication functions between the back-endserver and the commuter, for example where the information from theback-end server is provided on a fee-based subscription basis.

For example, the app may be implemented as a “native” executable runningon the commuter's device or the back-end server, along with one or morestatic or dynamic libraries. In other embodiments, the app may beimplemented as instructions processed by a virtual machine that executesas one of the other programs. In general, a range of programminglanguages known in the art may be employed for implementing suchexemplary embodiments, including representative implementations ofvarious programming language paradigms, including but not limited to,object-oriented (e.g., Java, C++, C#, Visual Basic.NET, Smalltalk, andthe like), functional (e.g., ML, Lisp, Scheme, and the like), procedural(e.g., C, Pascal, Ada, Modula, and the like), scripting (e.g., Perl,Ruby, Python, JavaScript, VBScript, and the like), declarative (e.g.,SQL, Prolog, and the like).

Method of Operation of the System

FIG. 4 illustrates a method 400 of operation of the exemplary systemsdescribed herein in accordance with an embodiment. The method isprovided in the context of a public transportation system including aplurality of vehicles (each having a dedicated reporting device), aplurality of stations (each having a dedicated receiving device), aremotely-located back-end server, and a plurality of commuter's, each ofwhich being in possession of an internet-enabled device. At step 401, avehicle approaches or arrives at a station. The vehicle includes adedicated reporting device that intermittently or continuouslybroadcasts/transmits a signal (e.g., using Bluetooth or Zigbeetechnologies). Thus, step 403 includes transmitting a signal indicatingthe identity of the vehicle by the reporting device on the associatedwith the vehicle. When in the communication range, the signal from thereporting device is received by the receiving device at the station atwhich the vehicle is approaching/has arrived at. Thus, step 405 includesreceiving the signal indicating the identity of the vehicle by thereceiving device associated with the station. The receiving device atthe station authenticates the received signal and then communicatesinformation regarding the arrival of the vehicle to the remotely-locatedback-end server. Thus, step 407 of method 400 includes communicatinginformation regarding the identity of the vehicle and the time ofarrival at the station to the back-end server. This communication may beaccomplished by an electronic network, such as the internet. At step409, the back-end server stores the information regarding the identityof the vehicle and the time of arrival of the vehicle at the particularstation on a database associated with the back-end server. The databaseis also configured to store current and historical arrival informationfor each vehicle and each station. Still further, at step 411, themethod 400 includes the commuter using an internet-enabled device toaccess the arrival information stored at the back-end server. The accessmay be accomplished by communication over the internet between thecommuter's device and the back-end server, and may be facilitated by anapplication stored at the server or on the user's device.

While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in theforegoing detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vastnumber of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that theexemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and arenot intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of theembodiments in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description willprovide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map forimplementing an exemplary embodiment, it being understood that variouschanges may be made in the function and arrangement of elementsdescribed and methods of preparation in an exemplary embodiment withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, which is set forth in theappended claims and their legal equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for tracking a public transportationvehicle comprising: a reporting device implemented on the publictransportation vehicle that transmits a signal comprising informationregarding an identity of the public transportation vehicle; a receivingdevice implemented on a public transportation station that receives thesignal from the reporting device and communicates the informationregarding the identity of the public transportation vehicle and atime-stamp regarding an arrival of the public transportation vehicle atthe public transportation station to an internet-enabled back-end serverlocated remotely through the internet; and the internet-enabled back-endserver that receives the communication from the reporting device andstores the identity of the public transportation vehicle and thetime-stamp regarding the arrival of the public transportation vehicle atthe public transportation station in a database of the back-end server,wherein the back-end server is configured to allow access of itsdatabase by an internet-enabled commuter device.
 2. The system of claim1, wherein the reporting device transmits the signal using Bluetoothtechnology.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the receiving devicereceives the signal using Bluetooth technology.
 4. The system of claim1, wherein the reporting device transmits the signal using Zigbeetechnology.
 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the receiving devicereceives the signal using Zigbee technology.
 6. The system of claim 1,wherein the public transportation vehicle comprises a bus or a train. 7.The system of claim 1, wherein the system is enabled for a plurality ofpublic transportation vehicles.
 8. The system of claim 7, wherein thesystem is enable for a plurality of public transportation stations. 9.The system of claim 1, wherein the back-end server is located remotelyfrom the public transportation station.
 10. The system of claim 9,wherein the receiving device communicates with the back-end server overthe internet.
 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the commuter devicecomprises a smartphone.
 12. The system of claim 1, wherein the commuterdevice comprises a personal computer.
 13. The system of claim 1, whereinthe back-end server comprises a software-based application thatfacilities the commuter's access of the database.
 14. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the commuter's device comprises a software-basedapplication that facilitates the commuter's access of the database. 15.A method for tracking a public transportation vehicle comprising thesteps of: transmitting from the public transportation vehicle a signalcomprising information regarding an identity of the publictransportation vehicle; receiving at a public transportation station thesignal from the public transportation vehicle; communicating to aninternet-enabled back-end server the information regarding the identityof the public transportation vehicle and a time-stamp regarding anarrival of the public transportation vehicle at the publictransportation station; storing the identity of the publictransportation vehicle and the time-stamp regarding the arrival of thepublic transportation vehicle at the public transportation station in adatabase at the back-end server; and allowing access of the database byan internet-enabled commuter device.
 16. The method of claim 15, whereinthe step of transmitting is performed using Bluetooth or Zigbeetechnology.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of receiving isperformed using Bluetooth or Zigbee technology.
 18. The method of claim15, wherein the step of communicating is performed using the internet.19. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of allowing access isfacilitated by a software-based application.
 20. The method of claim 15,wherein the step of receiving is performed upon arrival of the publictransportation vehicle at the public transportation station.